Preview: Bobcats at Pistons

March 31, 2012|Reuters

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Preview: Bobcats at Pistons

THE STORY: Charlotte will try to snap a six-game losing streak minus leading scorer Corey Maggette at Detroit on Saturday night. The Bobcats lost Maggette for at least one week when he strained his right Achilles in Friday's 99-88 loss to Denver. He had 19 points and six rebounds when he suffered the injury and will not travel to Detroit. The Pistons are not exactly rolling, having lost six of eight games, including 83-71 at Chicago on Friday.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Bobcats), FS Detroit (Pistons)

ABOUT THE BOBCATS (7-42): The Bobcats, who are an NBA-worst 3-22 on the road, will try to pick up the scoring slack for Maggette with Gerald Henderson and Kemba Walker. "I just hope he's OK," said Henderson, who is averaging 18.7 points in his last seven games. "I didn't see where he hurt it. Obviously, he's a huge part of what we're doing. Hopefully, it turns out all right for him."

ABOUT THE PISTONS (18-33): Detroit is quickly falling out of the playoff chase - 7 1/2 games behind eighth-place New York - but should have a chance to gain ground against the Bobcats. This is the third of four meetings between the teams and the Pistons have won the first two. Detroit could be shorthanded tonight. Ben Gordon (sore groin) and Rodney Stuckey (hamstring) did not play Friday. Stuckey was injured in the first quarter against Cleveland on Wednesday. Gordon has missed two games.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Detroit's bench was just 3 of 20 shooting against Chicago.

2. Walker has scored in double figures in five of six games and is averaging 12.3 points during that stretch.

3. This is the first of four consecutive road games for the Bobcats, who play nine of their remaining 12 at home.